Slightly disappointed

[Easytigers]

On the way home today (in the car unfortunately!)...was travelling on a country road (national speed limit) I came to a sweeping corner only to come face to face with a car that was in my lane overtaking two cyclists riding side by side (as in she had to be completely in my lane!). I slammed on and managed to pull the car into the ditch by the side of the road rather than hit her or the cyclists. The car bounced down into the ditch and managed to find its way back onto the road (kind of). As I tried to move forward there was a lot of screeching.

I thought the wheel had torn off but in the end it was just the wheel arch cover. I managed to pull it off and made it home. Luckily, I think that was the only damage (apart from my underpants!) but getting it checked out at the weekend.

Thankfully the other driver stopped...was slightly disappointed that the cyclists didn't stop to see if I was ok (it was quite a dramatic off!). Usually the cyclists round here are a really caring bunch and have stopped on numerous times when I've been on the bike and needed help.

Should they have stopped?

 

[CopperCyclist]

Morally yes of course. To provide witness details at the very least.

 

[welsh dragon]

Scary isn't it. Hope your not too badly shaken.

 

[Easytigers]

I got home...slowly. Not sure how but my right arm is really sore and have sore ribs. I rang my mechanic and he suggested that I look on ebay for a replacement part. I've sent off for one and it should be here in another day or so and he'll fit it and check the car over. I rang the woman and said that I feel that she should pay half of the costs for the parts. She said that she'd have to speak to her husband but rang back a little while later to say that it would be fine.

My Dad was livid and said that she should pay for all of it (and if it's more then I will push for that) but to be honest I'm so glad that we all got home safely...there could be two dead drivers (and she had two kids in the back of the car) and two dead cyclists.

 

[Mrs M]

Hope you're ok, must have got a huge fright.
I'd have expected/hoped the cyclists would have stopped to make sure you were ok and to offer help if needed.
Quite disappointing to hear they didn't.

 

[doog]

She sounds quite decent in agreeing to contribute, she's under no obligation to do this at all remember How much was the part just to put a balance on things?

She was at fault no doubt, if you put pressure on her about going through the Insurance company she might pay for the lot...but she might not...its a balancing act. . As for the cyclists, its a shame that many are taking up this hobby without any road sense or consideration for other road users.

 

[Easytigers]

Great to hear that the other driver stopped, seeing as it sounds like she was the one at fault. Would she have attempted to overtake a car or other slow-moving vehicle at that point? If not, she made a dangerous error of judgement and she should pay for the damage to your car.

There's no way she would have tried to overtake normally...she apologised profusely before she left. Maybe I'm being too nice but to be honest we were going to hit and it was a struggle to pull it over into the ditch. I don't want to slam her for an error of judgement (which I'm sure I've been guilty of before to some extent). Like I said, if there's more damage than I can see I'll get the insurance companies involved. If it's just the part that I've sourced then I'll say a big thank you to the big man upstairs that everyone is ok and hope she'll contribute.

 

[Easytigers]

She sounds quite decent in agreeing to contribute, she's under no obligation to do this at all remember How much was the part just to put a balance on things?

She was at fault no doubt, if you put pressure on her about going through the Insurance company she might pay for the lot...but she might not...its a balancing act. . As for the cyclists, its a shame that many are taking up this hobby without any road sense of consideration for other road users.

I spoke to my mechanic and he said appox £80 new plus fitting. He suggested I ebay it and then he'll fit it. I found one for £30 free postage plus his fitting so shouldn't be too much. I do want him to just check everything else as it was one hell of a bang (but must say that he's very honest and if there is no damage he'll let me know)

 

[Feastie]

Not condoning the fact the woman clearly shouldn't have overtaken on the corner and is a bit of a nutter, but I have to say cyclists going side-by-side on a 60mph road is one of the most inconsiderate things. Maybe they were just that kind of people?

Glad you're alright out of it! Could have been very nasty by the sound of it.

 

[gavintc]

On the way home today (in the car unfortunately!)...was travelling on a country road (national speed limit) I came to a sweeping corner only to come face to face with a car that was in my lane overtaking two cyclists riding side by side (as in she had to be completely in my lane!). I slammed on and managed to pull the car into the ditch by the side of the road rather than hit her or the cyclists. The car bounced down into the ditch and managed to find its way back onto the road (kind of). As I tried to move forward there was a lot of screeching.

I thought the wheel had torn off but in the end it was just the wheel arch cover. I managed to pull it off and made it home. Luckily, I think that was the only damage (apart from my underpants!) but getting it checked out at the weekend.

Thankfully the other driver stopped...was slightly disappointed that the cyclists didn't stop to see if I was ok (it was quite a dramatic off!). Usually the cyclists round here are a really caring bunch and have stopped on numerous times when I've been on the bike and needed help.

Should they have stopped?

Driving too fast for the conditions. What would you have done if the cyclists were on your side of road and car was coming other direction? Hit them ?

 

[Drago]

The Woman is stewpid. Had it been me in the Armoured Personnel Carrier I might have let her bounce into me. Well, I wouldn't, but the temptation would be there.

Glad you survived though bud.

 

[Easytigers]

Driving too fast for the conditions. What would you have done if the cyclists were on your side of road and car was coming other direction? Hit them ?

Good question...Although I said it was national speed limit..I wasn't going too fast.The problem was the she was going fast and that in the second that I had as she was on my side of the road, I did the best I could. I often come across cyclists on the same road, and they have been side by side, and it's never been a problem. The problem was a car in my lane going at speed with only a second to react.

 

[doog]

Not condoning the fact the woman clearly shouldn't have overtaken on the corner and is a bit of a nutter, but I have to say cyclists going side-by-side on a 60mph road is one of the most inconsiderate things. Maybe they were just that kind of people?

Glad you're alright out of it! Could have been very nasty by the sound of it.

Agree, careless or inconsiderate cycling at the least, no wonder they didnt stop.

 

[dst87]

The other driver was driving completely recklessly. Overtaking anything (cyclist or otherwise) on a corner is just moronic. Absolutely disgraceful.

Is everyone in such a rush they can't just wait a bit? Perhaps the cyclists shouldn't have been cycling side-by-side, but moronic behaviour from other road users doesn't excuse more moronic behaviour in turn.

 

[gavintc]

Agree, careless or inconsiderate cycling at the least, no wonder they didnt stop.

I did not realise that cycling side by side was not allowed. Perhaps one was overtaking the other.